Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley is hopeful Jack Byrne will be persuaded to stay in Dublin beyond the end of this season by the club’s offer of a new deal.
The Ireland international is out of contract in November and was the subject of two separate bids from MLS side Charlotte this week.
Rovers turned each of those offers down, leaving Byrne to renew his focus on the club’s attempt to win a fourth successive league title.
And last night, in the Hoops’ 4-0 win over city rivals, St Pat’s, the 26-year-old playmaker excelled.
Afterwards Bradley said: “His mentality was top level here. A lot of players would have wavered and let the distraction get to them, and not performed. Jack went the other way and showed why he was in demand and a bid was made for him.
“We know the quality he has but it was about the mentality and how he approached the game. He showed a real mature performance.
“It wasn’t an easy (situation) because we know they (Charlotte) made a couple of bids. The board’s stance was always that he was not for sale.
“While that’s obviously frustrating for them (Charlotte) as a club, they’re pushing to get it done. Jack is in the middle of that and I’m in the middle of that with Jack trying to speak to all parties and make sure he’s focused on this game. To be fair to him his mentality was top class.”
Bradley confirmed the offer from the MLS was ‘brilliant, incredible’ but added: “Jack has a contract with this club and this club made a decision to keep Jack understanding how important he is for us.
“These are the realities of football, you sign contracts, and Jack understands and respects that. From the off the board weren’t moving and I think Jack respected that.”
Respect is one thing Byrne has won in his two spells at Rovers even if his performances last year were not as good as the ones he delivered in his first stint at the club.
“Jack will be the first one to tell you he was nowhere near his levels last year.
“This year we are seeing the level of Jack that we saw the year before he went to Cyprus. It’s no coincidence they (Charlotte) make a couple of bids for him during the week. That’s the level he’s playing at. He’s definitely back to the levels he was at the first time he left.
“The board always asks us (the management) for our opinion and our feedback. Ours was very clear, we didn’t want to lose Jack (especially) as it is outside our transfer window. The board, to be fair, have backed us on many of those decisions”
Asked to confirm if Byrne will definitely be at the club after Monday’s MLS deadline, Bradley replied: “Jack will be here.
“The club are in the process of offering Jack a deal. That’s between him and his representatives. I’m sure he will take it away and look at it. That’s Jack’s decision.
“We’ve got to respect that Jack can easily stay here until November and then walk out of the door for free. If that happens you can only thank him for what he does. You make these decisions with your eyes open.”
After last night’s game Byrne added: “I’m in the game long enough to know that when a club makes a bid for you that it’s between the two clubs to sort out.
“They didn’t reach a valuation that Shamrock Rovers felt was acceptable so I’m here till the end of the season and I’ll give my all to the club.
“I take confidence in the way I’m playing and how I started the season. My body feels good so it’s good that people are talking about me.”
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